Feast of All Souls: Purgatory the Clearest of Our Church's Teaching

Feast of All Souls

Today I went on an early Mass (6:30 a.m.) to commemorate the feast of all souls. A solemn feast in the Liturgical Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. I appreciate the simple but clear homily of the celebrant. He explained why we Catholics believe in purgatory and why purgatory is necessary. This teaching about purgatory has been one of the most controversial teachings of the Church as far as those who do not believe and are enemies of the church. We Catholics are often subject to redicule by the nemies of our religion because of this teaching.

But personally, I adhere to this teaching and for me it is one of the clearest teaching of our Church about the dead. This teaching does not deny or minimize the absolute power of Christ's atonement but rather this teaching gives prominence to the love and justice of the Almighty. As I examined the teachings of our Church, the more I am convinced of the necessity of purgatory. And far from being unbiblical, this teaching finds its basis not only on Sacred Tradition but more so in the Scriptures. Let me share with you some passages from Scriptures that gives us clear idea why purgatory is a necessary thing (qoutes from Douay-Rheims Version):

"It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins." 2 Machabees 12: 46

"And whoseover shall speak a word against the Son of man, shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come. [emphasis supplied]" Matthew 12: 32. (Note: this verse of a forgiveness extended in this world and in the hereafter which make it necessary for us to pray for the dead who died in grace but with venial sins or those that has temporal debts to settlle because we know that sins offends God and neighbor and restitution has to be made.)

"For our God is a consuming fire." Hebres 12: 29.

"Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust, that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit, In which also coming he preached to those spirits that were in prison; which had been sometime incredulous, when they waited for the patience of God in days of Noe, when the ark was a building; wherein a few, that is eight souls, were saved by water." 1 Peter 3:18-20 Note: This passage speaks of an abode of the dead, a prison. Which in Hebrew means Sheol, to Greeks Hades, for the Latins Purgatio and English Purgatory. This is the reason for the gospels to tell us that when Christ expired on the Cross, the veil of the temple was rent and many souls long dead were seen walking on the streets of Jerusalem. This is to demonstrate that Christ descended into Hades and preached to them that were there awaiting redemption. What more can be clearer than this teaching? Christ rebuked the Sadducees for their unbelief in the ressurection. This is the main reason why Jesus told the Jews that if they refer to God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob then we can conclude that God is not the God of the dead but of the living. For all live in God. This is the cornerstone of our faith.

However we should understand clearly that the souls in purgatory are the souls of persons who died in the grace of God or who are in a state of Grace, but due to the temporal pains inflicted on those affected has to pay for the temporal punishment to serve the justice of God. This is the main reason why there are indulgences and the church grants indulgences in order to remitt the temporal punishment due to sin. Take note also that the souls of the damned are not in purgatory. Thats why we say that the souls in purgatory are holy because they are destined for heaven. Unlike the unbelievers and unrepentant sinners who are in hell, of which no amount of prayers and work of mercy on the part of the living would ever avail.

I love the concluding statement of the priest in his homily. He said that this feast of all souls reminds us poignantly that ultimately our citizenship is not of this world but of Heaven. What a consoling statement!!! It leads us to take refuge in God and how are we encouraged to live by faith, hope and love. As St. Paul said everything will perish but only these three will remain and the greatest of this is love. Therefore if we want to be included in the eternal kingdom of God we must possess these eternal virtues.

Let me share with you some of the photos and their story. I took this using my Nokia E63 phone its only 2 megapixel and therefore the quality will not be as good as that of a professional camera. After the morning mass I went around visited the Church cemetery and tool these pictures.

A couple of days ago before all saints I requested the transfer of the remains of my grand parensts Miguel and Maria to the Church cemetery nearby. I feel relieved and consoled that the remains of my grandparents are now rested just beside the Church they loved, where they were baptized, confirmed, married, lived and where requiem mass were said for them. Here their remains will rest and will wait for the ressurection of the dead when they will see the Lord face to face, and where their eyes shall behold their Lord in Paradise. I made them a promise that once financially able I will retrieve their bones from the general cemetery and take them here near the Church. We who are alive have the responsibility for taking care of the remains of our departed family. It is also our tribute to them and our public expression of our faith in the Ressurection of the Body, a cornerstone of our Creed and the foundation of the Christian religion.

This is the Church cemetery located on the west wing of the Church. Now everythime I will attend Mass I will be able to visit the remains of my grand parents and could offer them prayers for the repose of their souls. Are we not moved by charity to pray for the souls in purgatory?

The outdoor altar, Christ the King Plaza, located at the courtyard. This is an ad orientem altar but now outdoor masses always prefer the popular altar (ad populum).

The massive bell tower. I always like the idea of bells. I consider church bells sacred because they are the instrument use to call the faithfull to prayer. They toll before every mass, during processions, during funerals, angelus and festivities. In the 18th century this bell tower also serves as watch tower to see the approaching Muslim raiders. At that time Muslims from Mindanao are expert mariners. They could run those fast sea craft and in order to harrass the Spanish authorities they would raid and sack Christian towns and settlements. Thus Churches at the time being the only fortified building serves as sort of a fort to protect the Christian population. Hence churches were built like fortresses.

This is the facade of the Church of San Juan Bautista. Votive candles are lit on the walls. Church authorities has discouraged the excessive lighting of candles inside the building because they detract from the celebration of the liturgy. Hence many of the faithful lit their votive canldes outrside of the Church building.

One of the most well loved grotto in this church. Our Lady of Lourdes. Day and night one can observe devotees standing in prayer and offering votive candles.